Pages

Saturday, 16 October 2010

I spent some time creating a brush for our logo, so we will have a easier way to sign our work, although the logo may change, it will be the addition of elements and nothing to do with design or colour, So we still can use this.

Also, I created a basic Concept Art Layout, where we can present more professionally all our concepts.

Here's is the PNG example of it:

To share this with all my studio colleagues, uploaded a Brush version of the Logo and a .PSD Version of the Layout, which can be used in photoshop easily. Feel free to download it.

Here is the concept for the Space pod, which will carry the scary invisible forces from beyond the stars. Based on the sketch by Aflockofpixels, my job here was to clean up the drawing and paint it digitally, the use of Black and white is to follow through the concept of our Animation, a B&W 1950's Sci-Fi B-movie.. Also, having done an accurate front and top view, this concept is ready to be modeled.

After receiving feedback on the previous uploaded trailer titles, We decided to take the most appealing title and develop it a little further. By changing the white colour for a transparent layer, it will help me to better depict the invisibility quality.For the title, when applied to the trailer We want to create a small animation within the title, this technique was seen before in the B-movies, such as " Invisible Invaders", and consist in have the normal version of the title, which will then become transparent. only visible by the glow around it or the outline of the font. Just like this:

For a better idea of what I'm trying to achieve here is the trailer.

Invisible Invaders trailer:

Finally, to mention colour, the coloured version is to be used in the Poster and concept layouts, where the B&W version will be used in the final animation.

Friday, 15 October 2010

Here is the final design for the Scientists Assistant, which is just a re draw of the original finalised character concept. The reason for this is we didn't feel that the clothing she was wearing was adhering to the fashion sense of the 1950's science fiction style.

Wednesday, 13 October 2010

After looking at some scripts, We decided to format 0urs to the correct format, not only to increase its readability, but also to present it in a professional manner. Adding the locations to each scene, the cuts and dialogues or monologues.

“The Day of the Invisible Cannibals from Beyond the Stars”Trailer ScriptOriginal Screenplay by B3D Studios

The scene cuts to a soldier shooting. An astronaut goes down.*Gunfire sounds/chilling music suddenly increases in tension as the camera star wipes into a new scene.*

Cut To:

Int. Scientist's Laboratory

Astronaut's body laid across table.Camera moves up to the Scientists startled face. Around the table are the General, Scientist and his sexy female assistant.

General"What exactly are we dealing with here"

Scientist"It's… it's… a man... but like I've never seen before…"

General"How do you mean?"

ScientistHe is... (dun dun dun style musical interlude) invisible!"

As this is said we see the scientist opening the Astronauts visor. There's nothing inside. The characters around the Astronaut all pull back with over acted horror. The screen pauses and more text comes up.

Preview man (V.O)"They are the man eating, invisible force from beyond the stars!"

Cut to:

Ext. Retro Futuristic Metropolis

Astronauts tearing their space suits off. Shocking musical score plays in time with their scary actions.

Tuesday, 12 October 2010

I'm posting these rough storyboards. As you can see, they are very rough, but when I get an idea, I try to get it down quickly first. All these board will be redrawn and polished at a later stage. Although hopefully before the end of the week. The idea is that I can be working on the animatic before the final boards are ready.

Although I like my design for the Scientists Assistant, I cant help but notice she merges into two categories. Shes wearing the tight, quirky clothing that many science fiction movies used, however her appearance could work as a rebelious teen from the modern day.

To look farther into the characters clothing, I have here several film trailers/images which help depict the look of the "future" in the 1950's eyes.

Devil Girl from Mars

The Astounding She Monster

I think this next one really compares to my characters design: Barberella

I have noticed in the 50's and 60's it was rather unfavourable for the women to expose any flesh, the visual sex appeal would be transmitted by the characters slim build and tight clothing. As these films started to push the boundaries of their own social limits, they began to see worlds beyond their own. This is a possibility to why some of the sexier assistant roles/female characters started to dress in less concealed clothing. It seemed very controversial at the time yet for a small B Movie I reckon it would be a risk worth making.

Here we have Gabriella Drake, an actress in the tv series UFO. In this photo you can see how the tight clothing was finished off with shining metalic accessories, such as the boots, the large waist high belt alongside the typical permed hairstyle of the 1950's.

Knowing that the pitch is next Wednesday Afternoon, the administration decided that was need to make some changes to speed up the project and to be able to present professional concepts and storyboards at the pitch next week.

This changes will be applied principally until next Monday, however if the project is still delayed, They will maybe continue.

Pre-Production Roles Changes:

Ruben- Finalizing all the props and environmental designs.

Shahbir- Working closely with Ethan to finish the storyboards ( it means work on from the rough storyboards to the final ones). And put Sound on the Animatic when done.

Chris- Finish Character Design, and Sound Design, Work with Shahbir and Ethan to find the appropriate sound for the Animatic.

Ethan- Finalizing the Storyboards and Animatic.

Here is the update, later I will upload an update on the project plan, to inform how the things are going.

Using the same style used in the 1950's posters, I tried to create something similar for my film title " The Invisible Cannibals from Beyond the Stars", however being a long title I found difficult to get the composition right. But so far here is what I came up with.

Monday, 11 October 2010

Here we have the scientists assistant. Slim in build similar to the scientist himself, however smaller and very stereotypically feminine. Curvy shapes are used to make her figure stand out, purposefully enforcing the visual response of a sexy character - a character that could be the typical blonde in trouble in a horror film. She wears a girls fit lab coat similar to that of her boss.

Below we have another black and white image of the same picture above, but this time with the character wearing a short skirt. Initinally, the character was suppost to be wearing the tight flares that we see above to contrast the 1950's vision of the future, however in an extra attempt to add sex appeal I thought a short skirt could be possible. It may involve the addition of some kind of floral pattern however to keep to its times...

I think this character could be quite strong within the film, thus make the hero feel a lot more lovable and shy until he embarks on becoming the hero of the day. Again this is based on the ideas of what make a character look the way they perform within the film, thus returning to Rubens post about character designs:

Okay, as part of the schedule, We started to put together some rough storyboards, to get the story right, these storyboards will later be polished and added to the final and presentable storyboard, for our pitch.

As mentioned this storyboard is only the 1st sequence, the rest is in charge of AFlockofPixels and Shahbir.

Here's the decided design for the hero of our story. The Scientist saves the day by finding a device which makes the invisible cannibals visible.

Here's a few drawn images of his design from our finalising character design meeting:

The character's personality is somewhat shy, hes content within his own environment, with his own company in his laboratory. He doesn't get out much to exercise, therefore he is of a typical slim build. Most heroes within films, or main characters in the 1950's were often good looking, therefore we had to choose a way to create this character to feel geeky yet at the same time handsome and lovable.

Other characters in films have used this design principle to reflect this type of character personality, such as the reference image posted by Ruben. (below)

We decided that turn arounds of the characters should come later once we are closer to the modelling process.

As this is said we see the scientist opening the Astronauts visor. There's nothing inside. The characters around the Astronaut all pull back with over acted horror. The screen pauses and more text comes up.

The scene changes to the lab. The astronaut lying on the table wakes up, in the background. The assistant, facing the camera, slowly begins to turn around (suspecting some movement). Cuts to black and you hear the assistant scream.

I tried to get done some more environment thumbnails to be painted later digitally, next stop was the interior, of the spacestation, bearing in mind the style and how the things would work inside it, I drew some quick sketches, to determine perspective and composition.

Here is the final concept based on the chosen sketch for the space station. For this final concept, I'm using a rather different approach, being presented with the use of markers in concept art, I decided to give it a go, and improve my own skills with them. Although, I can't experiment with colour, it is always a fast and good approach to get some concepts at a professional stage.

Sunday, 10 October 2010

This post is only to highlight the type of body shapes we will be using in the characters, it will also serve as reference for Chris, who is in charge of the characters.After delegating last week what our characters should look like, and having the support of the book, The Art of Planet 51. We straightly decided what shapes they would have.

Scientist ( Hero, Shy, Not much built).

Scientist Assistant ( Sexy, beautiful, 1950's women Role model).

General ( Army Man, Arrogant, Strict)

Generic Soldier ( well-built)

Generic Woman ( Average Body Shapes)

this will help us stereotype our characters, aiming to get a design where the public immediately know the personality of the characters.

Current Project

Notes

About B3D Studios

B3D stands for Budget 3D, an independent company that specialises in CGI animation.
Our Studio is based around Rochester, Kent.
Our skills ranges from Story Development and Concept Design to producing a Final Product.

For our latest project, we are working on a B-Movie.
Delivering the feeling of low budget films into CG animation by the setting, over acting, corny moments and the suspenseful feeling of the classic low budgets sci-fi from the 1950s.